Counters



F. x. KAY COUNTERS Filed March 18, 1968 March 24. 1970 Inventor FRANCIS XAVIER KAY M *il Allorneyg United States Patent Office 3,502,267 Patented Mar. 24, 1-970 3,502,267 COUNTERS Francis Xavier Kay, Winslow, England, assignor to Instruments and Movements Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Mar. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 714,129 Int. Cl. G06m N12 US. Cl. 235-201 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A fluidic counter comprises a signal detector which for every signal received emits a primary and a secondary pulse to the inlet ports of a first and second pressure operated valves of an encoder, having their control and output ports interconnected so that successive primary pulses are passed from two output ports of the first valve alternately to two chains each comprising a plurality of -port double pressure operated valves connected in series through their one outlet port and having their other outlet ports connected to output ports corresponding to different integer counted. Lines connect each said other outlet port of a valve in each chain with control ports of valves in the other chain so that each pulse at an output port operates a valve in the other chain to transmit the next primary pulse to the output port corresponding to the next integer and reset previously operated valves in the other chain.

This invention relates to counters and is specifically concerned with a digital fluidic counter. The term fluidic is used in this specification in the sense in which it is becoming generally known in the art, that is to say it embraces both pneumatic systems and hydraulic systems.

It is sometimes required in fluidic systems to have a counter which receives pulses and provides a separate output for each pulse received up to a number corresponding to the maximum count of the counter. On reaching the final count the counter may then empty itself or it may alternatively be arranged to hold the final count until some other operation, such as depression of a manual control button, takes place.

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved digital fluidic counter.

In accordance with the present invention a digital fluidic counter for counting input signals received comprises means for producing fluid pressure signals alternately intwo output lines for successive signals received, each output line being connected to one of two chains of fluid pressure operated valves (as herein defined) each valve having at least one outlet port connected to an output port of the counter corresponding to a numerical integer, and the total number of such output ports corresponding to the maximum count measurable by the counter, the valves being connected by circuitry including a plurality of lines, each connected between said chains and each connected at one end to the outlet port of one valve and at its other end to the control port of another valve, the arrangement being such that each signal applied to each output line is passed through a valve in the chain connected to that line, to the output port corresponding to the total number of signals received, and such that each signal applied to an output port corresponding to an integer less than the maximum count and connected to an outlet port of a valve in one chain is applied to a control port of a valve in the other chain having its outlet port connected to an output port corresponding to the next highest integer to set said valve in the other line in a position in which a fluid path is established between its said outlet port and the output line connected to said other chain, so that the next signal receivedby the counter will result in a fluid pressure signal being applied to said output port corresponding to the next highest integer.

By a fluid pressure operated valve is meant a valve having an inlet port, at least one outlet port and at least one control port the valve being movable from one position toanother by fluid pressure applied to said control port and being arranged so that inonje said position a fluid path between said inlet and outlet ports is established.

Preferably each valve in the counter hastwo control ports arranged so that fluid pressure applied; to one con,- trol port urges the valve towards said one position and fluid pressure appliedto theother control-port urgesthe valve to said other position and said circuitry isarranged so that a fluid pressure signal, applied to the output port connected to the outlet port of at least one valve in one chain and corresponding to an integer greater than the minimum integer indicatable by the counter, is applied to a control port of a valve in the other chain having an outlet port connected to an output port corresponding to a lower integer to move the latter valve to a position in which its said outlet port is cutoff from the output line connected to said other chain, so that after a number of input signals corresponding to the maximum count has been received the counter is automatically in a position to commence a further counting cycle.

Where reference is made in the specification to fluid pressure operated valves having a plurality of outlet and/or exhaust ports the term fluid pressure operated valve is to be understood as including a system of valves in combination which is equivalent in operation.

The counter of the invention is capable of'providing an output pressure signal for each integer of the count.

Preferably said means for producing fluid pressure signals alternately in the two output lines for successive sig nals received comprised a detector and an encoder, the detector including an input and a device arranged to provide in sequence for every signal received at said input, a primary fluid pressure pulse in a first signal line and a secondary fluid pressure pulse in a second signal line, said first signal line being connected to the inlet port of a first fluid pressure operated valve in the encoder having two outlet ports, each connected to a different one of two control ports of a second fluid pressure operated valve in the encoder having its inlet connected to said second signal line and having two outlet ports each connected to a different one of the control ports of said first fluid pressure operated valve in the encoder so that each rimary pulse applied to one of said output lines causes the said second valve in the encoder to move to such a position that the succeeding secondary pulse moves said first valve in the encoder to a position such as to direct the next primary pulse to the other of said output lines, so that said primary pulses provide said fluid pressure signals in said output lines.

However, the counter may operate without such an encoder in cases where a machine or process provides the odd and even pressure pulses separately from two distinct sources together forming said means.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic representation of a pneumatic counter according to the invention.

The illustrated counter comprises an input impulse detector 10, a binary encoder 14, and two chains 16 and 18 respectively each containing two fluid pressure operated valves.

The input impulse detector 10 responds to input signals comprising puffs of air from an input 20 incident on a vane 21 to provide for'each puff, two air pressure pulses, the first-of which, a primary pulse, occurs at an outlet port 22 of the detector and the second of which; a secondary pulse succeeding the primary pulse, occurs at an outlet port 240i the detector. The detector is constructed basically as a -port high pressure valve, having an inlet port 26 connected to a source of high pressure and two exhaust ports 28 and 30, its spool or bobbin being biassed in one direction and movable in the other direction by deflection of the vane 21 in response to a puff of air thereon.

The binary encoder 14 is formed by two valves 32 and 34. Each of the valves, 32 and 34 is a S-port double fluid pressure operated pneumatic'valve i.e."a valve which has an inlet port 36, two outlet ports 38 and 40, two exhaust ports 42 and 44 and two control ports 46 and 48. Each valve is provided with abobbintnot shown) which is movable between two positions at one of which the input .port36 is connected to the outlet port 38 and theoutlet port 40 is connected to the exhaust port44, and at the other of which positions the input port 36 is connected to the outlet port 40 and the outlet port 38 is connected to the exhaust port 42. The bobbin is movable to said one position by a pneumatic pressure pulse applied to'the control port 46 and is movable to said other position by a pneumatic pressure pulse applied to the control port 48. In modifications (not shown) each S-port valve may be replaced by a valve system which comprises a number of fluid pressure operated valves so interconnected that they function as a conventional S-port valve.

The first valve 32 of the encoder, has its inlet port 36 connected by a first signal line 50 to the outlet port 22 of the detector to receive the primary pulses from the detector 10, while the second valve 34 of the encoder has its inlet port connected by a second signal line 52 to the outlet port 24 of the detector to receive the secondary pulses from the detector. The two outlet ports 38 and 40 of the second valve 34 of the encoder are connected to the control ports 48 and 46 of the first valve 32 respectively. The outlet ports 38 and 40 of the first valve are connected to the control ports 46 and 48 respectively of the second valve 34 and also to output lines 54 and 56 respectively connected to the two chains 16 and 18 respectively of the counter.

Considering first the chain 16, this includes first and second double pneumatic pressure operated S-port valves 58 and 60 each identical with the valves 32 and 34. The first valve 58 has its inlet port connected to the output line 54, its outlet port 38 is connected to the inlet port of the valve 60 and its outlet port 40 connected to an output port 5 of the counter significant of the integer 5. The valve 60 has the outlet ports 38 and 40 connected to output ports 1 and 3 respectively of the counter significant of the integers 1 and 3 respectively.

Similarly the chain 18 comprises first and second 5- port valves 62 and 64 respectively, the first valve 62 having its inlet port connected to the output line 56, the outlet port 40 connected to the inlet port of the valve 64 and the outlet port 38 connected to an output port 6 of the counter significant of the integer 6. The valve 64 has its outlet ports 38 and 40 connected to output ports 4 and 2 of the counter signifieant'of the integers 4 and 2 respectively.

The outlet port 38 of the valve 60 is connected to the control port 48 of the valve 62. The outlet port 40 of the valve 64 is connected to the control port 48 of the valve 60. The outlet port 40 of the valve 60 is connected to the control port 46 of the valve 64 and the outlet port 38 of the valve 64 is connected to the control port 48 of the valve 58.

Similarly the outlet port 40 of the valve 58 is connected to the control ports 46 of the valves 60 and 62 and the outlet port 38 of the valve 62 is connected to the control ports 46 and 48 of the valves 58 and 64 respectively.

The counter operates as follows:

Assuming the last output pulse occurred at the output port 6, the next pufi signal at the input 20 produces a first primary and secondary pulse in the lines 50 and 52 respectively. The first primary pulse is fed to the inlet 36 of the first valve 32 of the encoder which is in such a position that the pulse is passed to the outlet port 38 and the line 54, the valves 58 and 60 being in such positions that the pulse is passed to the output port 1. The pulse is also applied to the control port 48 of the valve 62 to move the latter to a position in which its inlet port is connected to its outlet port 40. Said first primary pulse from the outlet port 38- is also applied to the control port 46 of the second valve 34 of the encoder which is moved to a position in which the inlet port is connected to the outlet port 38. Thus when the succeeding secondary pulse is applied to the valve 34 it is transmitted to the control port 48 of the first valve and causes it to change posit-ion. In consequence the next primary pulse is applied to the chain 18 via the output line 56.

When the next primary pulse occurs, it is fed through i the valve 62 of the chain '18, to the valve 64 which is in such a position that the pulse is applied to the output port 2. Said next primary pulse is also applied from the port 40 of the valve 64 to the control port 48 of the valve 60 of the chain 16. The latter therefore changes over so that the next signal pulse applied to its inlet port appears at the output port 3. Said next primary pulse is also applied from the valve 32 to the control port 48 of the valve 34 causing the latter to change position again so that the succeeding secondary pulse causes the valve 32 to change position resulting in the application of the third primary input pulse to the line 54.

The third primary pulse is applied through the valve 58 of the chain 16 to the second valve 60 and hence to the output port 3. The pulse is also applied to the control port 46 of the valve -64 in readiness for the fourth primary pulse, and to the valve 34 of the encoder so that the valve 32 changes position again.

The fourth primary pulse is applied by the binary encoder to the line 56 and travels through the valve 62 to the valve 64 and is passed from the outlet port 38 of the valve 64 to the output port 4 and to the control port 48 of the valve 58 which changes position to connect its inlet with its outlet port 40 and the output port 5. On receipt of the secondary impulse the encoder changes over as before.

The fifth primary input pulse is applied by the binary encoder to the valve 58 and hence to the output port 5, and to the control ports 46 of the valves 62 and 60 to cause the valves 62 and 60 to change position. The succeeding secondary pulse again changes over the encoder.

The sixth primary pulse is transmitted through the line 56 to the valve 62 and, since the latter has changed over, to the output port -6. The sixth primary impulse is also applied to the control port 46 of the valve 58 and the control port 48 of the valve 64 to change the position of these valves. The succeeding secondary impulse causes the encoder to change over again. The counter is thus again in its original state and is prepared for another counting cycle.

It will be appreciated that in place of each of the 5- port double pressure operated valves described above, two 3-port valves may be used, or alternatively, four 2- port valves.

In an alternative embodiment, not shown, the connections 'between the output port 5 and the control port 46 of the valve 60, between the output port 6 and-the control port 46 of the valve 58 and between the output port 1 and the control port 48 of the valve 62 are omitted and a manual device is provided to reset the counter at the end of each cycle. v v 1 I claim: 1

1. A digital fluidic counter for counting input signals received and comprising 4 (a) signal receiving means connected to two output lines and including means producing a fluid pressure signal alternately in said two output lines in response to successive received input signals,

(b) a chain of fluid pressure operated valves connected to each said output line, the numbers of said valves in the two chains not differing by more than one and each valve having (i) an inlet port (ii) a first and a second outlet port (iii) at least one control port, each valve being responsive to fluid pressure applied to said control port to move from a position in which said inlet port is connected to said first outlet port and disconnected from said second outlet port to a position in which said inlet port is disconnected from said first outlet port and connected to said second outlet port,

(c) means connecting the inlet port of the first valve in each chain to the associated output line and means connecting the inlet port of each remaining valve in each chain with the first outlet port of the preceding valve in the chain,

(d) a plurality of output ports each corresponding to an integer in a series of consecutive integers and including an output port corresponding to the highest integer in the series connected to the second outlet port of the first valve in one chain, an output port corresponding to the next highest integer in the series connected to the second outlet port of the first valve in the other chain and separate output port connected to the second outlet port of each subsequent valve in each chain corresponding to an integer two less than the output port connected to the second outlet port of the preceding valve in the chain, and one less than an output port connected to the second outlet port of a valve in the other chain,

(c) a line for each valve connecting its said control port with the second outlet port of the valve in the other line connected to the output port corresponding to an integer one less than output port connected to the former valve,

(f) means for applying fluid pressure to said control port of the valve having its second outlet port connected to the output port corresponding to the lowest integer of all the output ports connected to said second outlet ports, prior to the reception of a fluid pressure signal corresponding to said lowest integer and (g) means for resetting each valve to the position in which its inlet port is connected to said first outlet port.

2. The digital fluidic counter of claim 1 including (a) two further output ports respectively connected to said first outlet ports of the last said valve in said chains the further output port connected to each valve corresponding to an integer two less than the said output port connected to said second outlet port of said valve, and

(b) a further line connecting said further output port corresponding to second lowest integer with said control port of said valve connected to said further output port corresponding to the lowest integer said further line comprising said means for applying fluid pressure to said control port of the valve having its second outlet port connected to the output port corresponding to the lowest integer of all the output ports connected to said second outlet ports.

3. The digital fluidic counter of claim 2 wherein there are an equal number of said valves in each chain and wherein said resetting means comprises (a) a further control port on each said valve, each said valve being responsive to fluid pressure applied to said further control port to move from said position in which said inlet port is connected to said second outlet port to said position in which said inlet port is connected to said first outlet port and (b) means connecting said second outlet port of the first said valve in each said chain with said further control ports of each other valve in said chain, means connecting said second outlet port connected to the output port corresponding to the highest integer with said further control port of said first valve in the other chain and means connecting said further control port of said valve connected to said output port corresponding to the highest integer, with said output port in the other chain corresponding to the lowest integer.

4. A digital fluidic counter of claim 1 wherein said means for producing a fluid pressure signal alternately in said two output lines in response to successive received input signals comprises:

(a) a detector including an input device connected to first and second signal lines and adapted in response to each input signal to apply a primary fluid pressure pulse to said first signal line and thereafter a secondary fluid pressure pulse in said second signal line;

(b) an encoder including a first and second fluid pressure operated valves each having (i) an inlet port,

(ii) two outlet ports,

(iii) two control ports such that fluid pressure applied to one control port urges the valve to a position in which one of said outlet ports is connected to said inlet port and fluid pressure applied to the other control port urges the valve to a position in which the other outlet port is connected to the inlet port,

said first valve of the encoder having its inlet port connected to said first signal line and its outlet ports each connected to one of said output lines,

and its control ports connected to the outlet pOrtS of said second valve of the encoder, and the second valve of the encoder having its inlet port connected to said second signal line and its control ports connected to the outlet ports of said first valve of the encoder, whereby each primary pulse applied to one of said output lines causes the second valve in the encoder to move to such a position that the succeeding secondary pulse moves said first valve in the encoder to a position such as to direct the next primary pulse to the other of said output lines.

5. The digital fluidic counter of claim 4 wherein each said outlet port of each said valve has an exhaust port associated with each said outlet port such that at each position of the valve one said outlet port is connected to the inlet port and disconnected from its associated exhaust port and the other said outlet port is connected to its associated exhaust port and disconnected from said inlet port.

6. The digital fluidic counter of claim 5 wherein the valve in each said chain furthest from the output line connected to the chain has each outlet port connected to one of said output ports.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,057,551 10/1962 Etter 235201 3,070,295 12/ 1962 Glattli 235201 RICHARD B. WILKINSON, Primary Examiner LAWRENCE R. FRANKLIN, Assistant Examiner 

